Carriage-top.



7 PATENTED MAY 24, 1904. L. 0.. SHIPLEY.

CARRIAGE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.10, 1903.

2 SHEETS-rSHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

A TTORNE Y 8 7% .w/ w M a w w e L PATENTED MAY.24, 1904.

L. G. SHIPLEY. CARRIAGE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED snr'r. 10, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOR Lew 2L? aj zzjazey A 7TOHNE rs W/ TNESSES "m: uomus mans cof. Pno'nxurud. WASPHNGTDN u c Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS CHARLES SHIPLEY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

CARRIAGE-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,928, dated May 24,1904.

8 Application filed September 10, 1903; Serial No. 172,599. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS CHARLES SHIP- LEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Carriage-Top, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in carriage-top frames, an object being to provide a frame so constructed as to fold compactly when not in use.

I will describe a carriage-top embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carriagetop frame embodying my invention, showing the same as arranged to fold rearward of the vehicle-seat. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the frame as folded. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the invention as applied to the side seat of a vehicle and arranged to swing laterally and to fold at the outer sides of the seat. 1 Fig. 4 shows a section of the frame as folded, and Fig. 5 is a detail showing a prop-engaging device applied.

Referring first to the example of my improvement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates the front bar of the upper or top frame, and 2 the rear bar thereof. These bars are connected by side bars, each consisting of two sections 3 4, pivotally connected together, as at 5, and having pivotal connections 6 7 with the front and rear bars. The front bar 1 has pivotal connection with the front standards, each front standard consisting of two sections 8 9, pivotally connected together, the sections 9 having hinge connections 10 with the said front bar, while the lower ends of the sections 8 are mounted to swing on rods 11, attached to the side portions of the vehicle-seat. Rear standards, each consisting of two pivotallyconnected sections 12 13, have pivotal con: nections 14 with the rear bar 2. They are also mounted to swing on rods 14*, extended outward from the back of the vehicle-seat.

When the-top is raised, a brace-bar 15 is engaged with the side bars of the top frame. As here shown, this brace-rod 15 is bifurcated at its ends to receive said side bars. it is desired to fold or lower the top, the brace-rod 15 is to be removed, the side bars, consisting of the members 3 4, are swung inward or toward the center, and the rear standards, consisting of the members 12 13, are also swung inward or toward each other. As the top is lowered the portions 8 of the front standards will pass along the sides of the seat, as indicated in Fig. 2, and will form convenient hand grips or rails.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown the top frame as connected to a side-seated vehicle, and the frame practically consists of two sections-one designed to fold against one side of the ve hicle, while the other side folds against the other side of the vehicle at the outer side of the seat. The top portion of the frame that is, each section thereofconsists of an inner member 16 and an outer member 17, these members being extended lengthwise of the vehicle-body. The front ends of the membars 16 17 are connected by a front bar consisting of two pivotally-connected sections 18 19, said sections also being pivoted to said members 16 17. The rear ends of the members 16 17 are connected pivotally to two members 2O 21 ofthe rear bar. Front standards, consisting of two pivotally-connected sections 22 23, are mounted to swing on studs 24, ex-

tended outward from the vehicle-body, and are pivotally connected to the outer top members l7, and rear standards, consisting each of two sections 25 26, are mounted to swing at their lower ends on studs 27, extended outward from the vehicle-body, and are pivotally connected to said members 17 When the top is raised, the inner members 16 are secured together by any suitable means. I have here shown hooks 28 for securing the parts. As a further means for rigidly holding the top in place I may employa prop 29, removably engaging in a loop 30, attached 'to the back of the front seat of the vehicle and having a T- head 31 for engaging with clips 32, attached to the under sides of the members 16. These clips 32, it will be noted, open in opposite di- VVhen motions. in folding the top the several standards will be swung inward toward each other, and the several members when folded will lie on the studs 24 and 27, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

While I have described my invention as a carriage-top, it is to be understood that it is not confined thereto, as it may be used for awnings on boats or otherwise placed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A carriage-top frame comprising standards, each standard consisting of pivotallyconnected sections, and a top-frame member consisting of bars, each bar comprising two pivotally-connected members, and bars pivotally connected to said last-named bars and also pivoted to the standards.

2. A carriage-top frame comprising a front bar, a rear bar, side bars connecting said front and rear bars, each of said side bars consisting of pivotally-connected sections, front standards consisting of pivotally connected sections, the upper sections having pivotal connection with said front bar and the lower section having swinging connection with the side portions of the vehicle-seat and adapted to extend along the same, rear standards consisting of two sections pivoted to said rear bar, and rods extended from the back of the seat on which said rear standards swing.

3. A vehicle-top frame comprising a plurality of hinged members, and rods extended from the vehicle-seat back on which the members may swing and on which the said members are designed to rest.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. LEWIS CHARLES SHIPLEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN LANYON, HENRY A. REYNOLDS. 

